9 year-old boy kicked off Lille League tem because he's "too good" to pitch - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Chocoholic · 08-26-2008, 11:25 AM

Is this further proof that we are raising a nation of wusses and crybabies? This boy has not hurt anybody physically! (Although I'm sure he's bruised a few egos.) He should be allowed to play!

9-year-old boy told he's too good to pitch

— Nine-year-old Jericho Scott is a good baseball player — too good, it turns out.

The right-hander has a fastball that tops out at about 40 mph. He throws so hard that the Youth Baseball League of New Haven told his coach that the boy could not pitch any more. When Jericho took the mound anyway last week, the opposing team forfeited the game, packed its gear and left, his coach said.

Officials for the three-year-old league, which has eight teams and about 100 players, said they will disband Jericho's team, redistributing its players among other squads, and offered to refund $50 sign-up fees to anyone who asks for it. They say Jericho's coach, Wilfred Vidro, has resigned.

But Vidro says he didn't quit and the team refuses to disband. Players and parents held a protest at the league's field on Saturday urging the league to let Jericho pitch.

"He's never hurt any one," Vidro said. "He's on target all the time. How can you punish a kid for being too good?"

The controversy bothers Jericho, who says he misses pitching.

"I feel sad," he said. "I feel like it's all my fault nobody could play."

Jericho's coach and parents say the boy is being unfairly targeted because he turned down an invitation to join the defending league champion, which is sponsored by an employer of one of the league's administrators.

Jericho instead joined a team sponsored by Will Power Fitness. The team was 8-0 and on its way to the playoffs when Jericho was banned from pitching.

"I think it's discouraging when you're telling a 9-year-old you're too good at something," said his mother, Nicole Scott. "The whole objective in life is to find something you're good at and stick with it. I'd rather he spend all his time on the baseball field than idolizing someone standing on the street corner."

League attorney Peter Noble says the only factor in banning Jericho from the mound is his pitches are just too fast.

"He is a very skilled player, a very hard thrower," Noble said. "There are a lot of beginners. This is not a high-powered league. This is a developmental league whose main purpose is to promote the sport."

Noble acknowledged that Jericho had not beaned any batters in the co-ed league of 8- to 10-year-olds, but say parents expressed safety concerns.

"Facing that kind of speed" is frightening for beginning players, Noble said.

League officials say they first told Vidro that the boy could not pitch after a game on Aug. 13. Jericho played second base the next game on Aug. 16. But when he took the mound Wednesday, the other team walked off and a forfeit was called.

League officials say Jericho's mother became irate, threatening them and vowing to get the league shut down.

"I have never seen behavior of a parent like the behavior Jericho's mother exhibited Wednesday night," Noble said.

Scott denies threatening any one, but said she did call the police.

League officials suggested that Jericho play other positions, or pitch against older players or in a different league.

Local attorney John Williams was planning to meet with Jericho's parents Monday to discuss legal options.

"You don't have to be learned in the law to know in your heart that it's wrong," he said. "Now you have to be punished because you excel at something?"

catlover79 · 08-26-2008, 11:30 AM

Good grief!!!!!!

Jude The Obscure · 08-26-2008, 12:00 PM

Proof that America is succumbing more and more to the crybaby disease!

Hollow · 08-26-2008, 12:20 PM

yeah, sounds like they're bitter about something else involving him and using that as an excuse to get rid of him. hopefully he can pitch in another league.

TJL · 08-26-2008, 01:25 PM

I agree Sarah, it looks like there's some sort of behind the scenes turmoil.

I haven't played little league ball for thirty years, and it's amazing that there's still all that Bull sh** involved.

We had kids who could throw that hard (even harder) when I was a nine year old player. If he was on your team, it was great, if he wasn't, well, you had to get in the damn batters box and try your best.

MrCleveland · 08-26-2008, 02:43 PM

That's just as bad as saying that the Little League can't have an All-Star Game because it would hurt the other kids feelings. (Which actually happened in a 'burb in my own city!)

sunshinefizzy · 08-26-2008, 03:11 PM

This does not suprise me. In my own life history I have found that it is not only how good you are but who you are. I agree with what another poster has said. My brother has been in little league for years and a couple of years my dad even coached. Most of the people running the joints don't treat the boys fairly at all. It's power more than anything and that is sad.

*Pleasant Tomorrow* · 08-26-2008, 03:55 PM

Ugh, that's ridiculous. Poor kid.

catlover79 · 08-26-2008, 04:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jude86

Proof that America is succumbing more and more to the crybaby disease!

Crybabies Anonymous!!!

howierules86 · 08-26-2008, 07:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catlover79

Crybabies Anonymous!!!

Well said, Monika! I would have been honored to have played against a great guy like him if I had the chance, that's for sure.

TJL · 08-26-2008, 07:20 PM

Homeriffic, where did you find this article? I would love to forward it to some people.

TJL · 08-26-2008, 09:44 PM

Never mind. I found it. Sports Illustrated website.

catlover79 · 08-27-2008, 12:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by howierules86

Well said, Monika! I would have been honored to have played against a great guy like him if I had the chance, that's for sure.

Same here...I guess to a Little Leaguer, it would be like going against Randy Johnson, Greg Maddox or Curt Schilling. Let the kid play!!!!

Schmoopie · 08-27-2008, 04:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Homeriffic

The controversy bothers Jericho, who says he misses pitching.
"I feel sad," he said. "I feel like it's all my fault nobody could play."

Good God! Now that is just sad! That broke my heart to read that sentence! They are going to be so sorry in the future. If this kid decides that he doesn't want to play baseball anymore, he could be missing out on an incredible career! My little brother was an AWESOME pitcher when he was in Little League and my parents would have freaked if this had happened to him.

This kind of reminds me of a wonderful movie called "Mickey". It's a screenplay written by the author John Grisham. It stars Harry Connick Jr and is about this dad and his son who go undercover to stay away from the IRS. The kid is too old to play in Little League but they disguise him so that he can keep playing. The problem is that he gets "too" good at the game and they are worried that their cover might be blown. I highly recommend this film!

Andrea

Wreckless · 08-27-2008, 02:25 PM

Anybody remember Danny Almonte from the little league world series? Lol. He sort of got away with that, and this kid, who's probably a good kid, is pitching great and he doesn't get rewarded. It's messed up when someobody is doing something good and not in the streets with gangs or nothing, and gets punished, like he did something wrong, when he DIDN'T. Messed up.

08-26-2008, 11:25 AM	#1
Chocoholic Member Forum Star Join Date: Dec 01, 2000 Location: Between a rock and a hard place. Posts: 11,235	9 year-old boy kicked off Lille League tem because he's "too good" to pitch Is this further proof that we are raising a nation of wusses and crybabies? This boy has not hurt anybody physically! (Although I'm sure he's bruised a few egos.) He should be allowed to play! 9-year-old boy told he's too good to pitch — Nine-year-old Jericho Scott is a good baseball player — too good, it turns out. The right-hander has a fastball that tops out at about 40 mph. He throws so hard that the Youth Baseball League of New Haven told his coach that the boy could not pitch any more. When Jericho took the mound anyway last week, the opposing team forfeited the game, packed its gear and left, his coach said. Officials for the three-year-old league, which has eight teams and about 100 players, said they will disband Jericho's team, redistributing its players among other squads, and offered to refund $50 sign-up fees to anyone who asks for it. They say Jericho's coach, Wilfred Vidro, has resigned. But Vidro says he didn't quit and the team refuses to disband. Players and parents held a protest at the league's field on Saturday urging the league to let Jericho pitch. "He's never hurt any one," Vidro said. "He's on target all the time. How can you punish a kid for being too good?" The controversy bothers Jericho, who says he misses pitching. "I feel sad," he said. "I feel like it's all my fault nobody could play." Jericho's coach and parents say the boy is being unfairly targeted because he turned down an invitation to join the defending league champion, which is sponsored by an employer of one of the league's administrators. Jericho instead joined a team sponsored by Will Power Fitness. The team was 8-0 and on its way to the playoffs when Jericho was banned from pitching. "I think it's discouraging when you're telling a 9-year-old you're too good at something," said his mother, Nicole Scott. "The whole objective in life is to find something you're good at and stick with it. I'd rather he spend all his time on the baseball field than idolizing someone standing on the street corner." League attorney Peter Noble says the only factor in banning Jericho from the mound is his pitches are just too fast. "He is a very skilled player, a very hard thrower," Noble said. "There are a lot of beginners. This is not a high-powered league. This is a developmental league whose main purpose is to promote the sport." Noble acknowledged that Jericho had not beaned any batters in the co-ed league of 8- to 10-year-olds, but say parents expressed safety concerns. "Facing that kind of speed" is frightening for beginning players, Noble said. League officials say they first told Vidro that the boy could not pitch after a game on Aug. 13. Jericho played second base the next game on Aug. 16. But when he took the mound Wednesday, the other team walked off and a forfeit was called. League officials say Jericho's mother became irate, threatening them and vowing to get the league shut down. "I have never seen behavior of a parent like the behavior Jericho's mother exhibited Wednesday night," Noble said. Scott denies threatening any one, but said she did call the police. League officials suggested that Jericho play other positions, or pitch against older players or in a different league. Local attorney John Williams was planning to meet with Jericho's parents Monday to discuss legal options. "You don't have to be learned in the law to know in your heart that it's wrong," he said. "Now you have to be punished because you excel at something?"

08-26-2008, 11:30 AM	#2
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,392	Good grief!!!!!!
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08-26-2008, 01:25 PM	#5
TJL Suburbanite Extrordinaire Forum Star Join Date: Dec 29, 2001 Location: New Jersey - the cradle of civilization Posts: 16,588	I agree Sarah, it looks like there's some sort of behind the scenes turmoil. I haven't played little league ball for thirty years, and it's amazing that there's still all that Bull sh** involved. We had kids who could throw that hard (even harder) when I was a nine year old player. If he was on your team, it was great, if he wasn't, well, you had to get in the damn batters box and try your best.
	__________________ "I think I'll stroll up to the front to see how the shooting's going..." - Capt. Benjamin Franklin "Hawkeye" Pierce Read my blogs! http://centralparkamisguide.com/ http://dvdcriticscorner.com Visit me on Facebook!http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=641138880 Hey, I do the tweet thing too! http://twitter.com/TomLevier My shop of handmade items! http://www.etsy.com/shop/ColdGarageCreations

08-26-2008, 02:43 PM	#6
MrCleveland Drew Carey from Hell Forum Star Join Date: Nov 10, 2007 Location: The City of Cleveland, in The State of Cleveland, in The United States of Cleveland Posts: 14,233	That's just as bad as saying that the Little League can't have an All-Star Game because it would hurt the other kids feelings. (Which actually happened in a 'burb in my own city!)
	__________________ Thank God for kids that love Obscure Things. Lee Hazlewood (1929-2007) You ARE Special to God! Rev. Ernest Angely (August 1921-May 2021)

08-26-2008, 03:55 PM	#8
Pleasant Tomorrow Member Forum Addict Join Date: Feb 19, 2003 Location: New York Posts: 69,525	Ugh, that's ridiculous. Poor kid.
	__________________ my name is ashlee Welcome! Everything is fine.

08-26-2008, 12:00 PM	#3
Jude The Obscure Retired Eternal Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Dec 10, 2006 Posts: 7,520	Proof that America is succumbing more and more to the crybaby disease!

08-26-2008, 12:20 PM	#4
Hollow Member Forum Superstar Join Date: Dec 16, 2001 Posts: 30,406	yeah, sounds like they're bitter about something else involving him and using that as an excuse to get rid of him. hopefully he can pitch in another league.

08-26-2008, 03:11 PM	#7
sunshinefizzy Member Senior Member Join Date: Sep 27, 2006 Location: Craptown Posts: 2,054	This does not suprise me. In my own life history I have found that it is not only how good you are but who you are. I agree with what another poster has said. My brother has been in little league for years and a couple of years my dad even coached. Most of the people running the joints don't treat the boys fairly at all. It's power more than anything and that is sad.

08-26-2008, 07:20 PM	#11
TJL Suburbanite Extrordinaire Forum Star Join Date: Dec 29, 2001 Location: New Jersey - the cradle of civilization Posts: 16,588	Homeriffic, where did you find this article? I would love to forward it to some people.

08-26-2008, 09:44 PM	#12
TJL Suburbanite Extrordinaire Forum Star Join Date: Dec 29, 2001 Location: New Jersey - the cradle of civilization Posts: 16,588	Never mind. I found it. Sports Illustrated website.

08-27-2008, 02:25 PM	#15
Wreckless Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Nov 04, 2007 Location: Banned Posts: 9,406	Anybody remember Danny Almonte from the little league world series? Lol. He sort of got away with that, and this kid, who's probably a good kid, is pitching great and he doesn't get rewarded. It's messed up when someobody is doing something good and not in the streets with gangs or nothing, and gets punished, like he did something wrong, when he DIDN'T. Messed up.